Democritus

Democritus is an ancient Greek philosopher who first used the word “Atom”. Democritus created the theory of the atom and he concluded that all mater is made up of the invisible particles called atoms. He also said that matter cannot come from nothing and matter is a “combination and recombination” of atoms. Democritus also stated that atoms could be combined to make the different matters of life. Other “atomists” and Democritus concluded that atoms were indivisible, could obtain any size, and were always a solid particle. We now know today that matter is not infinitively divisible. Democritus believed that atoms were encountered any time you experienced senses. So when you were to touch another person atoms carried from one person to another, or if you saw an object atoms were carried from the object to your eyes so you had the ability to see the object through atoms.

Democritus and the Atom

Even though Democritus was the first to use the word atom he wasn't recognized for it and never had a atomic model or theory. Democritus' idea and use of the word "Atom" was the first step to building the foundation of chemistry with the atom thousands of years later!